A federal appeals court has recently ruled in favor of the continuation of a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its campaign against the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment. The decision overturns a previous ruling by a lower court. The lawsuit was filed by three doctors who argued that the FDA exceeded its authority and acted more like a medical body than a regulator.
Initially, the district court dismissed the suit, but the 5th Circuit Appeals Court has now revived the doctors’ hope with its Friday ruling, sending the case back to the lower court for reconsideration. Judge Don Willett, in the appeals court’s written ruling, emphasized that while the FDA has the authority to inform and announce, it should not endorse, denounce, or advise as it is not a physician. The court found that the doctors have made plausible allegations that the FDA’s campaign crossed the line from informing to instructing.
The FDA’s campaign against the use of ivermectin for COVID-19, highlighted by signs declaring “You are not a horse,” emphasized the agency’s recommendation that ivermectin, commonly used as an anti-parasite medication for horses but sometimes prescribed to humans, should not be used for COVID-19 treatment. The FDA stated that although ivermectin is approved for certain uses in humans and animals, it has not been authorized or approved as a preventive or treatment measure for COVID-19, nor has its safety or effectiveness been confirmed for such use.
The drug has gained attention and controversy in fringe conservative circles as some hailed it as a miracle cure while others suffered from its side effects and even died. A review of 14 studies on ivermectin use in 2021 found limited significant evidence supporting its effectiveness, with only a few studies considered of high quality. The researchers noted that some studies may have been designed to produce predetermined findings, casting doubt on the credibility of the data.
Both the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health have also advised against the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment. The manufacturer of the drug, Merck, stated that there is no substantial evidence to support its effectiveness in treating the disease.
The doctors involved in the lawsuit claimed that their professional reputations suffered due to the FDA campaign as they had promoted the use of ivermectin. One of the doctors was suspended from a hospital, and another was fired from a medical school.
One of the plaintiffs, Mary Talley Bowen, expressed her satisfaction with the court’s ruling, viewing it as a small but significant step towards protecting the doctor-patient relationship from government interference. She celebrated the decision and expressed determination to continue the battle.
In conclusion, a federal appeals court has revived the lawsuit against the FDA regarding its campaign against the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment. The court found that the FDA’s actions may have exceeded its authority and sent the case back to a lower court for further consideration. The controversy surrounding the drug’s effectiveness and the FDA’s campaign has stirred debate among medical professionals and the public.
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